Binary counter

ABSTRACT

A high recovery rate binary counter having high-pressure sensitivity and independence to output loading. The counter embodies a bistable fluid amplifier, two exclusive gates, and a fluid pulse device for providing signal pulses of predetermined duration. The outlet of each exclusive gate is connected to opposing control ports of the bistable fluid amplifier while the input to the exclusive gates is connected to the outlet of the pulse device. Feedback is provided from the outlets of the bistable fluid amplifier to the control ports of the exclusive gates. A second embodiment employs AND gates in place of exclusive gates.

I United States Patent [72] Inventor Robert H. Bellman 2/1966 Groeber137/8 1 .5 Horseheads, NX. 3,240,219 3/1966 Dexter et al. l37/81.5 [21]Appl. No. 695,072 3,266,510 8/1966 Wadey l37/8l.5 22} Filed Jan. 2.19683,331,381 7/1967 Quigley, Jr, l37/81.5 [45] Patented Jan. 12, 19713,380,655 4/1968 Swartz 137/81.5X [73] Assignee Corning Glass Works3,399,829 9/1968 Richards et a1. 137/81.5X Corning, N.Y. 3,410,31211/1968 Cogar 137/81.5 a corporation of New York 3,243,114 3/1966Gobhaiet al. 235/201 Primary ExaminerSamuel Scott Attorneys-Clarence R.Patty, Jr. and Walter S. Zebrowski l 54 BINARYCOUNTER llCl 2D n F alms gABSTRACT: A high recovery rate binary counter having [1.5. high ressureensitivity and independence [0 output loading 235/201 The counterembodies a bistable fluid amplifier, two exclusive lltgates and a pulsedevi ce for providing signal pulses of Fleld of Search redeterminedduration. The outlet: of each exclusive gate is 235/200, g P g mp- Sens,connected to opposing control ports of the bistable fluid am- R f dplifier while the input to the exclusive gates is connected to 1 eerences I e the outlet of the pulse device. Feedback is provided fromthe UMTED STATES PATENTS outlets of the bistable fluid amplifier to thecontrol ports of the 3,226,023 12/1965 Horton 137/81.5X exclusive gates.A second embodiment employs AND gates in 3,227,368 1/1966 Jacoby 235/201place ofexclusive gates,

0 -60 l2 1 l4 1 l 32 38 outlet passage 20, whereupon the flow throughfeedback passage 64 is terminated and a similar feedback is caused toflow through feedback passage 62 to control nozzle 36 of exclusive gate12. The remainder of the flow through passage 66 will pass to and becaused to be sensed by utilization device 68.

When the next pulse is transmitted through outlet passage 46 offluidpulse 44 it will similarily pass through both sections of passages 60and be emitted through inlet nozzles 32 and 38 of exclusive gates 12 and14 respectively. This time, however, that portion of the pulse emittedfrom inlet nozzle 32 will be deflected by the feedback flow emittedthrough control nozzle 36 of exclusive gate 12 and be vented, whereasthat portion of the pulse emitted through inlet nozzle 38 of exclusivegate 14 will be intercepted by outlet passage 40 and be emitted throughcontrol nozzle 26 of bistable fluid amplifier 10. In this manner, thepower stream emitted from inlet nozzle 16 of amplifier 10 will flop overfrom outlet passage 29 to outlet passage 18 whereupon the cycle willcommence all over again.

Referring again to FIG. 1 it is seen that a pair of second controlnozzles 24 and 28 are provided in bistable fluid amplifier 10 forsetting and resetting the binary counter in the present invention. Forthe purposes of the present description, it is assumed that isrepresented when the fluid passes through passage 70 and "l" isrepresented when the fluid stream passes through passage 66 toutilization device 68. When it is desired to reset the counter to "0"signal is provided from a suitable source, not shown, through resetcontrol nozzle 28 of fluid amplifier 10. This will cause the powerstream emitted from the inlet nozzle 16 to either remain passing throughoutlet passage 18 or be flipped over to outlet passage 18 from outletpassage 20 if it happens to be flowing'in outlet passage 20. On theother hand, when it is desired to preset the binary counter, a fluid setsignal is provided from a suitable course, not shown, through setcontrol nozzle 24. This procedure will cause the power stream emittedfrom inlet nozzle 16 to either continue flowing through outlet passage20 or be flipped over from outlet passage 18 to outlet passage 20 if thestream originally flowing in outlet passage 18. In this manner, theutilization device will sense a signal representing l It should be notedthat fluid pulse device 44 must provide a pulse of duration which isless than the total of the switching time of bistable fluid amplifierand feedback time through passages 62 and 64 to prevent oscillation ofthe counter.

Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in H6. 2wherein the exclusive gates of FIG. 1 are replaced by AND gates 72 and74. AND gate 72 has an inlet nozzle 76, a pair of outlet passages 78 and80, and a control nozzle 82. The power stream provided by a suitablesource 83 is emitted through inlet nozzle 76 and ordinarily will flow inoutlet passage 80. Control nozzle 82 is connected to two sources ofsignals and the device is designed such that a signal form both sourcesmust be present in order to deflect the power stream from outlet passage80 to AND outlet passage 78. Outlet passage 80 is vented while outletpassage 78 is connected to control nozzle 22 of bistable fluid amplifier10. One control signal flow is provided by means of feedback passage 84connected intermediate outlet passage 18 of bistable fluid amplifier 10and control nozzle 82 of AND gate 72. The other source of control signalflow is provided by means of fluid pulse device 44 through passages 86.

Similarly, AND gate 74 has an inlet nozzle 88, a pair of outlet passages90 and 92 and a control nozzle 94. Outlet passage 92 of AND gate 74 isvented while AND outlet passage 90 is connected to control nozzle 26 ofbistable fluid amplifier 10. Control nozzle 94 of AND gate 74 isconnected to both outlet passage of bistable fluid amplifier 10 throughfeedback passage 96 and the outlet of fluid device 44 by means ofpassage 86. inlet nozzle 88 is connected to a suitable source 97 offluid.

The operation of this embodiment of the binary counter of the presentinvention is as follows. For the purposes of this description it isassumed that initially the power stream emitted from inlet nozzle 16will pass through outlet passage 18. Accordingly, a portion of thispower stream will be bypassed by means of feedback passage 84 and beemitted through control nozzle 82 of AND gate 72. An AND gate isdesigned such that the power stream emitted from inlet nozzle 76 will beemitted through outlet passage 80 unless a signal is received at controlnozzle 82 from two sources whereupon the power steam will be deflectedto AND outlet passage 78. Ac cordingly, when a fluid pulse is providedby means of fluid pulse device 44 it is transmitted through passages 86to control nozzles 82 and 94 if AND gate 72 and 74 respectively. SinceAND gate 74 requires a signal from fluid pulse device 44 and a feedbacksignal from outlet passage 20 of bistable fluid amplifier 10 before itspower stream is deflated from outlet passage 92 to AND outlet passage90, it will be unaffected by the portion of the fluid pulse provided bydevice 44 alone. On the other hand, when-the portion of the fluid signalfrom device 44 is passed through control nozzle 82 of AND gate 72 itcombines with the feedback pulse passed through passage 84 and causesthe power stream of AND gate 72 to flop over from outlet passage 80 toAND outlet passage 78 whereupon it is transmitted through control nozzle22 of bistable fluid amplifier 10. At this point, the power streampassing through outlet passage 18 of fluid amplifier 10 will flop overto outlet passage 20 whereupon a portion thereof will be fed back bymeans of feedback passage 96 to control nozzle 94 of AND gate 74. Whenthe next pulse is provided by fluid pulse device 44, it will not affectthe flow through AND gate 72 as heretofore described however, it willcombine with the feedback signal passing through passage 96 and will beemitted through control nozzle 94 of AND gate 74 causing the powerstream to flip over from outlet passage 92 to AND outlet passage 90.This signal will pass through control nozzle 26 of fluid amplifier l0and cause the power stream to be deflected from inlet passage 20 tooutlet passage 18. Utilization device 68 will sense these pulses asheretofore described providing a count thereof.

It is understood that only one stage of a fluid operated binary counterhas been described herein and where higher counting levels are desired aplurality of interconnected stages will be required as known in the art.

One familiar with the art will readily understand that the final designparameters of specific fluid devices will at least be dependent upon thefluid density, temperature, and pressure as well as the characteristicsof the outlet stream at the point of utilization.

Although the present invention has been described with respect tospecific details of certain embodiment thereof, it is not intended thatsuch details be limitations upon the scope of the invention.

lclairn:

l. A fluid-operated binary counter comprising:

a bistable fluid amplifier having an inlet nozzle, a pair of outletpassages and a plurality of control nozzles;

a first exclusive gate having an inlet nozzle, a control nozzle,

only one outlet passage, and vent means: the outlet passage of saidfirst exclusive gate being connected to one of the control nozzles ofsaid bistable fluid amplifier;

a second exclusive gate having an inlet nozzle, a control nozzle, onlyone outlet passage, and vent means: the outlet passage of said secondexclusive gate being connected to a control nozzle of said bistablefluid amplifier in opposition to said one control nozzle;

a fluid pulse device having one outlet passage connected to the inletnozzles of both the first and second exclusive gates for providing fluidsignal pulses thereto;

a first feedback passage connected intermediate the control noule ofsaid first exclusive gate and the opposing outlet passage of saidbistable fluid amplifier; and

a second feedback passage connected intermediate the control nozzle ofsaid second exclusive gate and the opposing other outlet passage of saidbistable fluid amplifier.

2. The fluid-operated binary counter of claim 1 further comprising autilization device.

3. The fluid operated binary counter of claim I further comprising meansfor resetting the counter.

'- 7. The fluid-operated binary counter of counter of claim 1 furthercomprising means for resetting said counter and means for setting saidcounter.

.'8.-The fluid-operated binary counter of claim 7 further comprising autilization device.

9. A fluid-operated binary counter comprisingi a bistable fluidamplifier having an inlet nozzle, a pair of outlet passages, and aplurality of control nozzles; first and second AND gates each having aninlet nozzle, a control nozzle suitable for connection to two sources offluid signals, an AND outlet passage, and a second outlet passage: I v

the AND outlet passage of the first AND gate being connected to onecontrol nozzle of said bistable fluid amplifier while the AND outletpassage of the second AND gate being connected to the opposing controlnozzle of said bistable fluid amplifier;

a fluid pulse device having one outlei passage connected to the controlnozzles of both the first and second AND gates for providing fluidsignal pulses thereto;

a first feedback passage connected between the control nozzle of saidfirst AND gate and the corresponding outlet of said bistable fluidamplifier; and

a second feedback passage connected field of control nozzle of saidsecond AND gate and its corresponding outlet passage of said bistablefluid amplifier.

10. The fluid-operated counter of claim 9 further comprising means forresetting and settingsaid counter.

11. The fluid-operated counter of claim 10 further comprising autilization device.

UNITED STA'IES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 59 5Dated January 12, 1911 lnve t Robert H. Bellman It is certified thaterror appears in the above-identified patem and that said Letters Patentare hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 1, line 5, "shown" should be -lcnown--.

Col. 1, line 23, insert --a between "is" and "fluid Col. 1, line 2 4,delete "embodiment" and insert -ordinarily-.

Col. 1, line 31, "an" should be --any--.

Col. 1, line 54, between "only" and "preferred" inser --the--.

Col. 1, line 65, delete "by" and insert "any".

Col. 1, line 67, between "fluid" and "as" insert --su Col. 2, line 1delete "respectively" and insert --and 1h.

Col. 2, line 16, change "29" to --20---.

C01. 2, line 17, "gage" should be --gate-.

Col. 2, line 6 4, "bypasses" should be -bypassed--.

C01. 2, line-7o, "gage" should be ----gate---.

001. 3, line 8, between "pulse" and "44" insert --dev Col. 3, line 19,change "29" to --20--.

Col. 3, line 28, between "O" and "signal" insert --a fluid--.

Page 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3 55M,2Q5 Dated Ja mi 12 1 91 Robert H. Bellman Inventor(s) It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 3, line 35, "course" should be --source.

Col. 3, line 39, after "stream" insert -was--.

Col. 3, line 5 4, "form" should be --from-.

Col. 3, line 70, between fluid and "device" insert -pulse--.

Col. 4, line 11, delete "if" and insert -of-; same line, change "gate"to "gates",

C01. 4, line 14, "deflated" should be deflected--.

II II Col. 4, line 52, after "invention" delete and insert --exceptinsofar as set forth in the following clai1 Col. 5, line 13, claim 7,delete "of counter" after "counter", first occurance.

Col. 6, line 15, claim 9, delete "field of" and inser -intermediatethe-.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of June 1971 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M..ELETGHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SGHUYLER, Ettesting OfficerCommissioner of Pate:

1. A fluid-operated binary counter comprising: a bistable fluidamplifier having an inlet nozzle, a pair of outlet passages and aplurality of control nozzles; a first exclusive gate having an inletnozzle, a control nozzle, only one outlet passage, and vent means: theoutlet passage of said first exclusive gate being connected to one ofthe control nozzles of said bistable fluid amplifier; a second exclusivegate having an inlet nozzle, a control nozzle, only one outlet passage,and vent means: the outlet passage of said second exclusive gate beingconnected to a control nozzle of said bistable fluid amplifier inopposition to said one control nozzle; a fluid pulse device having oneoutlet passage connected to the inlet nozzles of both the first andsecond exclusive gates for providing fluid signal pulses thereto; afirst feedback passage connected intermediate the control nozzle of saidfirst exclusive gate and the opposing outlet passage of said bistablefluid amplifier; and a second feedback passage connected intermediatethe control nozzle of said second exclusive gate and the opposing otheroutlet passage of said bistable fluid amplifier.
 2. The fluid-operatedbinary counter of claim 1 further comprising a utilization device. 3.The fluid operated binary counter of claim 1 further comprising meansfor resetting the counter.
 4. The fluid-operated binary counter of claim3 wherein said means for resetting comprise a source of fluid pulsesconnected to a control nozzle of said bistable fluid amplifier.
 5. Thefluid operated binary counter of claim 1 further comprising a means forsetting said counter.
 6. The fluid-operating binary counter of claim 5wherein said setting means comprise a source of fluid signals connectedto a control nozzle of said bistable fluid amplifier.
 7. Thefluid-operated binary counter of counter of claim 1 further comprisingmeans for resetting said counter and means for setting said counter. 8.The fluid-operated binary counter of claim 7 further comprising autilization device.
 9. A fluid-operated binary counter comprising: abistable fluid amplifier having an inlet nozzle, a pair of outletpassages, and a plurality of control nozzles; first and second AND gateseach having an inlet nozzle, a control nozzle suitable for connection totwo sources of fluid signals, an AND outlet passage, and a second outletpassage: the AND outlet passage of the first AND gate being connected toone control nozzle of said bistable fluid amplifier while the AND outletpassage of the second AND gate being connected to the opposing controlnozzle of said bistable fluid amplifier; a fluid pulse device having oneoutlet passage connected to the control nozzles of both the first andsecond AND gates for providing fluid signal pulses thereto; a firstfeedback passage connected between the control nozzle of said first ANDgate and the corresponding outlet of said bistable fluid amplifier; anda second feedback passage connected field of control nozzle of saidsecond AND gate and its corresponding outlet passage of said bistablefluid amplifier.
 10. The fluid-operated counter of claim 9 furthercomprising means for resetting and setting said counter.
 11. Thefluid-operated counter of claim 10 further comprising a utilizationdevice.